Self-configuration of multi-protocol nodes in heterogeneous network

Abstract

A technique for configuring multi-protocol nodes for IoT applications initially configures the multi-protocol nodes in a PAN network (e.g., a BLE mesh network). In response to a trigger, the multi-protocol nodes self-configure into a heterogeneous network accessible by a smart device. Each multi-protocol node enables LAN communications and searches for a LAN networking device for a predetermined interval. Nodes directly reachable by a LAN networking device reconfigure themselves to serve as a proxy to nodes that are out of range of the LAN networking device. The multi-protocol nodes publish their LAN connectivity status to neighboring nodes. After each of the multi-protocol nodes have received the connectivity status of corresponding neighboring nodes, the nodes determine their role in a heterogeneous network, e.g., a pure Wi-Fi node, a Wi-Fi-to-BLE mesh bridge connectivity node, or a pure BLE mesh node, and self-configure in a corresponding connectivity mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a network of multi-protocol nodes comprising:
 searching for a networking device associated with a first communications protocol by a first multi-protocol node of a plurality of multi-protocol nodes; and   the first multi-protocol node configuring itself to enable a first connectivity mode using the first communications protocol, enable a second connectivity mode using a second communications protocol, or enable a bridge connectivity mode using the first communications protocol and the second communications protocol based on whether the first multi-protocol node detects the networking device.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 prior to the searching, configuring the first multi-protocol node in the second connectivity mode. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 in response to a trigger event, using the second communications protocol to provision each of the plurality of multi-protocol nodes to enable the first communications protocol. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first multi-protocol node enables the second connectivity mode in response to the first multi-protocol node failing to connect to the networking device. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first multi-protocol node enables the first connectivity mode, enables the second connectivity mode, or enables the bridge connectivity mode further based on whether neighboring multi-protocol nodes of the plurality of multi-protocol nodes detect the networking device. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5  further comprising:
 the first multi-protocol node receiving indications of enabled connectivity modes of neighboring multi-protocol nodes. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 5  wherein the first multi-protocol node enables the first connectivity mode in response to all multi-protocol nodes neighboring the first multi-protocol node being connected to the networking device. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 4  wherein the first multi-protocol node enables the bridge connectivity mode in response to at least one multi-protocol node neighboring the first multi-protocol node failing to connect to the networking device. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 all other multi-protocol nodes of the plurality of multi-protocol nodes enabling the first connectivity mode, enabling the second connectivity mode, or enabling the bridge connectivity mode based on whether each other multi-protocol node detects the networking device. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein all the other multi-protocol nodes configure themselves to enable the first connectivity mode, enable the second connectivity mode, or enable the bridge connectivity mode further based on whether corresponding neighboring multi-protocol nodes detect the networking device. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first communications protocol is a wireless local area network protocol and the second communications protocol is a wireless personal area network mesh network protocol. 
     
     
         12 . A network of multi-protocol nodes, the network comprising:
 a multi-protocol node comprising:
 a radio frequency transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals; and 
 data processing circuitry operable to:
 use the radio frequency transceiver to search for a networking device associated with a first communications protocol; and 
 enable a first connectivity mode using the first communications protocol, enable a second connectivity mode using a second communications protocol, or enable a bridge connectivity mode using the first communications protocol and the second communications protocol based on whether the multi-protocol node detects the networking device. 
 
   
     
     
         13 . The network as recited in  claim 12  wherein the data processing circuitry comprises:
 a storage element; and 
 a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the storage element, the instructions being executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 configure the radio frequency transceiver and the data processing circuitry to search for a networking device associated with the first connectivity mode and selectively enable the first connectivity mode, the second connectivity mode, or the bridge connectivity mode based on whether the multi-protocol node detects the networking device. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . The network as recited in  claim 13  wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 configure the multi-protocol node in the second connectivity mode prior to the search; and 
 in response to a trigger event, use the second communications protocol to provision each multi-protocol node of a plurality of multi-protocol nodes to enable the first communications protocol. 
 
     
     
         15 . The network as recited in  claim 13  wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to enable the second connectivity mode in response to the multi-protocol node failing to connect to the networking device. 
     
     
         16 . The network as recited in  claim 13  wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to enable the first connectivity mode, enable the second connectivity mode, or enable the bridge connectivity mode further based on whether neighboring devices of a plurality of multi-protocol nodes detect the networking device. 
     
     
         17 . The network as recited in  claim 13  wherein the multi-protocol node enables the first connectivity mode in response to all multi-protocol nodes neighboring the multi-protocol node being connected to the networking device. 
     
     
         18 . The network as recited in  claim 13  wherein the multi-protocol node enables the bridge connectivity mode in response to at least one multi-protocol node neighboring the multi-protocol node failing to connect to the networking device. 
     
     
         19 . The network as recited in  claim 13  the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 self-enable, by all other multi-protocol nodes of a plurality of multi-protocol nodes, the first connectivity mode, the second connectivity mode, or the bridge connectivity mode based on whether each other multi-protocol node detects the networking device, 
 wherein all the other multi-protocol nodes configure themselves to enable the first connectivity mode, the second connectivity mode, or the bridge connectivity mode further based on whether corresponding neighboring multi-protocol nodes detect the networking device. 
 
     
     
         20 . A multi-protocol node comprising:
 a storage element; and   a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the storage element, the instructions being executable to selectively update a corresponding connectivity mode from an initial connectivity mode based whether the multi-protocol node detects a networking device and based on another corresponding connectivity mode of a neighboring multi-protocol node.